Civil Liberties
The civil liberties side of what I said comes from first hand experience trying to help one of my sons who is a drug addict. In many ways it is similar to a mental illness. I know we would have had a much better chance of helping him if the privacy laws enabled us to find out exactly what the situation was with him. He certainly would have benefited from being forced into a drug rehab program that he could just not walk out of.

What I learnt was the system stops the family and friends, who love the individual the most, from getting the individual the help they need.

It should not necessarily be the case that this leaves a lifelong mark on their record - the goal is to get them the help they need (even when they are not in a mental state that enables them to see it) and have them emerge as a healthy member of society.

The Florida School Shooter had lots of people raising a red flag - but nobody could get him the help he obviously needed.

It probably helps to think of this the way you would help a drug addict. The goal is to help the individual and stop them hurting themselves or other - not to take your guns away from you.

Storage
Could you forgive yourself if your son took your guns and killed a bunch of kids at his school (and probably himself). It has happened and that is why storage is important.

Drugs
I agree and the drug companies should be responsible for those studies as part of the FDA approval process. They should also be required to take action if evidence emerges after the drug is available on the market.

Periodic background checks

Circumstances people find themselves in change. These checks should be quick and not an undue burden.

I hope you are right about:

'Reworking drug laws, violent offender sentencing and release, and domestic violence convicts prohibited possessor enforcement addresses about 97% of the basic motive for gun homicides.'

and if you are - lets get it done.

Thanks for making me think through these issues - I appreciate the time you put into formulating you post.

Let hope the powers that be find a solution that works.

Thanks again.